Virgin Media Community

[johnnich]

Taken phone call today from Virgin
They knew my very long unique broadband ID alpha numeric data
They got me to enter various bits of CMD data which revealed over 1300 errors since Feb
They wanted me to enter an email address into the CMD area so they could delete the errors
They were very plausible but I was suspicious and refused to do so
I asked where he was based (Indian accent) – he said 81 Newgate Street London
This appears to be a BT office address
They did not want to give any details beyond their name (Paul Smith – I ask you!)
They didn’t want to provide extension details so I could call back
He said this would result in him losing his job as he would told he was not doing his job properly!!!
I was already suspicious because I have had no sense of lower broadband speeds which was the purpose of the call
What I have had over the past two weeks is a number of breaks in landline telephone service with Virgin Media so I am wondering if the two things are related!
I tried to contact Virgin but found it impossible to talk to a person – Covid-19 cited as partly to blame.
There is no web chat facility
There is no email facility
It feels like a scam so I wanted to alert them and it is impossible to alert them so they can make their customers aware (duty of care?)
Surely they should be alerted if this is a scam and make their customers aware but there does not seem to be  any convenient way to alert other customers.
So I am posting this in the forlorn hope Virgin might take notice!!!

[Bommer89]

Hello ive had a call today off this number +800183611 ive tried to find out if it was virgin as 8ve recently signes up for Internet and applied for a phone contract the web chat was very unhelpful. 

[goslow · Accepted solution]

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@johnnich wrote:

Taken phone call today from Virgin
They knew my very long unique broadband ID alpha numeric data ...

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@johnnich

You have correctly identified that this was a scam attempt. Hopefully you did not provide them with any personally identifiable information about yourself nor allow them remote access to your computer or banking information.

Unfortunately, now they have made contact with you, they will doubtless try again so be on your guard for further attempts. The best approach is to put the phone down and not engage with them.

Further advice is available below from the government National Cyber Security Centre

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/suspicious-email-actions

If you have had issues with your Virgin Media landline phone then you can post a query in the 'Home Phone' forum and one of the forum team should be able to help you with this.

If you continue to receive scam calls, then using a call blocker/screening device can help prevent these coming through to your phone.

[johnnich]

Thanks for your response

Number of my caller was 01447725387

So quite a different number

[goslow]

The incoming numbers which appear on caller ID are fake (as per your 01447 number) and change for each new scam call.

[johnnich]

Thanks so much for your reply

[ibloodyh8scamz]

Hey guys,

We just received a very similar call from these scammers but unfortunately my dad answered the phone and the scammers got him to open the CMD and was asking him to type stuff for ages. So i'm unsure how much damage is done.

It wasnt until my dad asked me and everyone to turn off their devices I got suspicious, then asked who my dad was talking to. I asked to speak to them. Within 5 secs of speaking I realised its a scam call. The scammer started swearing then hung up after I asked to call him back. 

My question is, do you think running anti-virus scan software will revert any damage? Or is there any other measure. I don't actually know the extent of the damage because my dad is computer illiterate and was just doing as he was told. 

Please let us know, thank you. 

[Emily_G]

Sorry to hear of the situation.

We do advise that we rarely contact customers to go through any fault diagnosis the team is inbound, if you're ever worried please do hang up and call us on a verified number 150/0345 454 1111. We would recommend for him to change all his email and account passwords in case these were at risk.

Thanks, Emily.

[Smeegle]

I received a scam phone call purporting to be from Virgin regarding problems with router speed. India subcontinent accents. 3 unknown number calls then one from 01642298633, three females and one male. Male gave insulting comments when I asked why trying to scam people and all ended call when questioned..

Always ask which property or area are they are referring to test them. They may not be able to give specifics but should be able to answer a couple of general questions to confirm who they are. If they don't know, its got to be a scam. If still unsure and they ask for router box details, ask them for the last two or three digits of the box serial number. If still unsure, say you will phone them back.

I agree with the initial posting  it is not easy to report scam calls on Virgin. Unfortunately most calls are number withheld but when a telephone number is highlighted as a scam it should be put on Virgin Media's website and made very easy to find by others highlighting why it is on there.

Lets make it less easy for these scamming parasites.

[BerryG]

Virgin are losing my trust and I could not in conscience recommend them. The only thing they are really good at is taking and forever asking for money. CoVid doesn't get in the way of that. However its used as the excuse for absolutely everything else.

Broadband speeds - and WiFi promises not met. In part because they are often in the chain together and one is played off against the other.

I have been getting many strange phone calls. Where do I report these? Virgin on-line advice is to call the number back to establish if its genuine! What about these reverse charge Scams?

How do Virgin prices compare with other providers? On the comparison web-sites very badly! They are very quick to tie you into their 18m contract. They will never let you out of it. Tough. Re-negotiation is to encounter a magician of words and promises never fulfilled. I wonder where they think they are going with this approach. Its not a recipe for satisfaction with me.

Does anyone have a answer to dodgy call reporting?